5 natural contraceptive methods most people try

Should you try alternative or natural contraception methods, or go with the tried and tested ones? We help you decide.

Doctors always ask their clients to use the usual contraception methods to avoid the chances of unwanted pregnancy after sex. However, a lot of people don’t agree with these methods and devices at all. So, they try other means for contraception. This article highlights some popular natural and alternative contraceptive methods.

Some alternative contraception methods tried around the world

The use of condoms, birth control pills and even IUDs (Intra Uterine Devices) is highly recommended for contraception. However, other contraceptive methods – known as alternative and/or natural methods – are also used. Consider 5 of the most popular ones:

Having sex on ‘safe days’: The ‘safe days’ in the month are those days when the woman does not ovulate, or is just a couple of days away from getting her period. However, there is always a slim chance of pregnancy for sex without protection on those days. The risk is significantly reduced for women who have an IUD, and for men who have undergone a vasectomy.

Tracking the cervical mucus: The woman secretes mucus or discharge from the vagina at different points in the month. The secretion comes from the cervix, and it varies in colour, consistency and texture at different times. For instance, there is very little mucus for a few days after the menstrual period ends. The mucus becomes clear and thin during the ovulation phase. Meanwhile, it becomes a little curdy just after ovulation ends. You can try having sex just after the period ends, and just before it begins, based on the changes in the cervical mucus.

Eating spermicidal food: This method is often dismissed as an old wives’ tale. However, the use of certain food as an anti-pregnancy method has been tried through the ages. The most popular remedy includes eating raw papaya for about three months to induce low sperm production in the man. Once you stop eating the papaya, the testicles resume normal sperm-producing function. Foods that increase body basal temperature, such as jaggery, red meat and dry fruit are also natural contraceptive methods.

Withdrawal method: This is a popular contraceptive method. It involves removal of the penis from the vagina just moments before ejaculation takes place. Those who use this method surmise that if there is no ejaculate inside the vagina, there will not be a pregnancy. However, there might be some sperms in the pre-ejaculate fluid secreted during arousal. Hence, this is not a fail-safe method at all.

Breastfeeding for six months after childbirth: This is a scientifically-backed contraceptive method. As long as the woman is breastfeeding her child for up to 6 months after birth, for about 4 hours per day and while she has not yet resumed her normal menstrual cycle, the reproductive system does not produce any eggs. There cannot be a pregnancy in the absence of ovulation. However, this method rarely works after the first 6 months’ post-childbirth.